Andrea Pelotte and Nancy Costa contributed to research now published in 'Journal of Chemical Education'

As undergraduates, Andrea Pelotte (Biochemistry/Med Bio ‘09) and Nancy Costa (Med Bio, Chem Minor ’08) contributed to research that has recently been published in the August issue of the Journal of Chemical Education (2012, 89, 8, 1064–1067), a widely-read journal published by the American Chemical Society.

Associate Professor Amy Deveau, Ph.D., and Instructors Joseph Simard, Ph.D., and Chris Syvinski, M.S., all of the Department of Chemistry & Physics published the article that was based on their work with Pelotte and Costa on the design, development and implementation of a UNE chemistry course's new organic chemistry experiment that is done in water and is, therefore,"green."

In the experiment, students assume the role of pharmaceutical researchers striving to identify the "greenest" and most cost-effective method out of three proposed literature methods to synthesize ethyl (4-phenylphenyl) acetate in the lab. Ethyl (4-phenylphenyl) acetate is a precursor to the drug felbinac, which has shown promise as a lead compound in the discovery of new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of arthritis and related disorders.

The Journal of Chemical Education lab experiment fosters team problem solving skills because it both exposes students to recent chemical literature and asks students to make decisions based on a real-world professional situation.



About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.